Brinjal and Greens Fusion

Ingredients

• quarter kilo brinjal, chopped (கத்தரிக்காய்)
• half a bunch greens (keerai), chopped (கீரை)
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp cumin seeds (சீரகம்)
• quarter tsp fenugreek seeds (வெந்தயம்)
• quarter tsp asafoetida powder (பெருங்காயத்தூள்)
• half a tsp mustard seeds
• 2 dried red chillies
• as needed rock salt
• 3 tsp coconut oil
• 1 tsp butter

Method

1. Dry-roast some of the mustard seeds with the fenugreek and grind to a powder.
2. Heat oil and temper mustard, cumin, pepper, dried chillies and asafoetida; add the brinjal and saute.
3. Add the chopped greens and salt, sprinkle a little water, cover and cook until tender.
4. Once the water has dried up, stir in the roasted powder and butter and take off the heat.

Adapted from பேலியோ ஆரோக்கிய சமையல் (Paleo Arokkiya Samaiyal) by Rtn Kannan Azhagirisamy, page 60. Method rewritten in our own words; ingredient quantities follow the book, with gram weights estimated for the nutrition figures. The book thanks the Arokkiya Unavugal (Healthy Foods) Facebook group and tamilpaleorecipes.com.